Vice-President K.B. Amissah-Arthur has said the significance loss of Ghana's vegetative cover has impacted negatively on the country's water bodies and immensely affected the operations of irrigation and hydro-electric facilities.
He, therefore, stressed the need for concerted efforts to protect the country's vegetation to sustain water bodies for the operations of the various irrigation facilities and hydro-electric dams in the country.
The Vice-President made these remarks when a high powered delegation from the Republic of Congo led by a Special Aide of President Sassou Nguesso , Mr Henri Diombo called on him at the Flagstaff House in Accra on Tuesday to deliver a special message to President John Dramani Mahama.
Although the content of the message was not disclosed it was believed to be an invitation extended to President Mahama to participate in an international conference on the environment scheduled to be held in the capital Brazzaville at the end of this month.
The conference which will be held under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will attract leading personalities on the African continent such as the current Chairman of the African Union, Mr. Robert Mugabe who is also the President of Zimbabwe.
It will among others, discuss illegal logging on the continent and how it had contributed to deforestation and its concommitant consequences of climate change.
According to the Vice President, the rainfall pattern in the country and elsewhere on the continent had became erratic and had become partly responsible for the drying up of water bodies.
This situation, Mr. Amissah-Arthur, noted had invariably affected agricultural production and seriously undermined the operations of hydro-electric dams resulting in power crisis in a number of African countries, including Ghana.
The Vice-President said the government attached great importance to issues related to the environment especially its vegetation and in that direction continue to support institutions which are mandated to prevent the pillage of the country's forest.
Mr. Diombo, on his part, thanked the Vice-President for the warm reception accorded his delegation and remarked that the gesture would be conveyed to President Nguesso.
The Special Aide praised Ghana for its democratic credentials and commended President Mahama's role of promoting democracy and good governance in the West African sub-region.
<<Print>>